Family Infighting

“Tell me what happened.”

Song Caitang changed into a sweet pink and green dress that wasn’t too flashy but brightly colored and elegant enough. It gave off an air of spring, an air of life, and it was suitable for a young lady of her age. She sat down next to the window in her room where the sun shone the brightest, comfortably holding a cup of tea in her hands, and listened to Qinxiu tell her about what had happened that morning.

Guan Qing suddenly lost her temper and threw a bowl at the feet of the auntie in charge of the kitchen. She glared at the auntie and said that it was bad enough that the auntie’s hands weren’t clean, but worse, she had also failed to wash the bowl clean and that the bowl she got still had fingerprints on it.

The auntie immediately fell to her knees and was very upset. She was not only upset that she had been accused of having unclean hands but also about that dirty bowl. She was sure that the bowl was clean. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to use it to serve Eldest Young Mistress.

But the bowl was already broken and couldn’t be put back together again. Nothing she said worked. Guan Qing dragged her straight to Madam Zhang, who, as the mistress of the house, was in charge of all the aunties.

After they got to Madam Zhang’s, Guan Qing said with an icy expression and a sarcastic tone that she didn’t know what kind of rules this household followed anymore.

This woman was an auntie, so she was in charge of other servants and held a higher position, but she was still an indentured servant and now belonged to the family. Who allowed her to be so bold? How dare she argue with her owner? She had failed to wash a bowl properly, and she actually argued back? Were the Guans no longer owners of this house? She was the Eldest Young Mistress of this family, yet she couldn’t even point out something like this?

“The auntie apologized, but Eldest Young Mistress didn’t let her off…”

Qinxiu was sent her by the one living in Qingyi Court, so her words were careful and biased. She wouldn’t say anything bad about Guan Qing in front of Song Caitang, but the parts about Madam Zhang were vague and painted in a nicer manner as well. But Song Caitang could still understand what must have happened.

The bowl that Guan Qing broke was one of those that were part of that set, along with the bowls found in both her grandmother’s room and Madam Zhang’s room.

She had used this bowl as an excuse to bring this auntie before Madam Zhang. Others might not understand why, but Madam Zhang would definitely know why.

Song Caitang couldn’t help but clap for Guan Qing. This eldest cousin of hers acted really swiftly and fiercely.

It had only been a day since she told Qingqiao to send a veiled message to Guan Qing. At this time, Guan Qing had not only discovered the problem, but she had also found the culprit, dragged her before Madam Zhang, and lost her temper.

The speed of her actions, the control she had over the servants at home, and the sort of fiery temper she had…

Madam Zhang must have been so furious.

Guan Qing’s words weren’t aimed at the auntie. They were aimed at her!

Song Caitang took a sip of tea, “What did First Aunt say?”

Qinxiu looked at her Cousin Young Mistress’ intelligent gaze and expressionless face and felt a little frightened. She dared not say anything unnecessary and recounted the rest of the story.

Song Caitang was very impressed by this awful aunt of hers after hearing the rest.

Guan Qing had scolded her to her face, flew into a rage, and insisted on firing everyone who worked in the main kitchen, which was the same as getting rid of one of Madam Zhang’s arms. Not only did Madam Zhang not fight back, but she actually accepted it. She accepted it and even said that Guan Qing had done a good job of disciplining the servants and that it was only right for a Young Mistress to have this sort of temperament. Servants were servants, so no matter what they did, as long as they did the wrong thing or they made their masters unhappy, they were in the wrong! They deserved to be beaten! They deserved to be punished!

Guan Qing had only said that she wanted to sell the auntie away, but Madam Zhang called a slave trader to come over right away and told the trader to make sure he sold the auntie to the filthiest, worst, most disgusting place in the world!

Not only that – Madam Zhang was very grateful to Guan Qing for seeing the problem in the house and reminded her that as the mistress of the house, she ought to check and discipline the servants.

Madam Zhang gave the order there and then that from today onwards, the house gates were to be locked up. All servants were to be checked to make sure that such things never happened again. During this period, only the servants who had to leave the house to buy essential items were allowed to leave, and they had to get a token from her before they could step out of the house. The rest of the servants were not allowed to leave the house otherwise, not even to talk to visitors at the door.

“This is a very grave matter, so Madam said that the other members of the family have to take note and not leave the house. Eldest Young Mistress agreed.”

Song Caitang looked down slightly and tapped her fingers lightly against the table as she fell into deep thought.

Guan Qing had taken this chance to get rid of the people on Madam Zhang’s side, but similarly, Madam Zhang could take this chance to get rid of everyone on Guan Qing’s side. This idea of checking the servants and not allowing anyone to go out was Madam Zhang’s response.

Madam Zhang was not only shameless, but she was also a quick thinker. She was able to switch strategies in an instant and launch a counterattack.

But regardless of how capable or intelligent both Guan Qing and Madam Zhang were, Guan Qing, unfortunately, lost to her in terms of their position in the house.

Madam Zhang was married and belonged to one generation before Guan Qing’s. Guan Qing was a young, unmarried woman who had to call Madam Zhang her aunt. Most of the time, they were cordial to one another and got along. But once there was a disagreement, Madam Zhang was immediately able to take the moral high ground and use her seniority to push Guan Qing down.

Madam Zhang’s actions probably had two goals. One was to get rid of all the people on Guan Qing’s side. The second aim was to make things difficult for Guan Qing. Unlike Madam Zhang, Guan Qing was now the boss of the Guan family business, so she couldn’t just stay at home all day without meeting customers and the like. Every three days, she had to go around and check the books too…

So, Guan Qing had two choices. She could listen to her aunt and stay obediently at home, allow her wings to be clipped, neglect the business, and lose credibility. It would be hard for her to take over the shop and manage it in the future if she did that. Otherwise, she could disobey her aunt and do what she was supposed to do…

If she did that, Madam Zhang would have a reason to tell her off.

Madam Zhang could accuse her of not listening to her elders, of being rebellious and insubordinate, and of being prideful and aggressive. Everything in the house had to go her way. She wanted to get rid of a servant in such a nasty fashion, and the elder in the family already allowed her to do so. Yet, when the elder wanted to take a few days to check the rest of the servants and have some peace and quiet in the house, this Eldest Young Mistress had refused.

A young lady like that couldn’t possibly have a good reputation.

And Guan Qing wasn’t married yet.

She was already considered old for a single woman. If she had to deal with this sort of reputation as well, what was she going to do in the future? Who would dare to ask for her hand in marriage?

Song Caitang looked down at the tea leaves in her cup as she sorted out each point in her head. She sighed inwardly.

It was obvious that both Guan Qing and Madam Zhang knew what the other was thinking. They didn’t try to literally kill each other and kept up appearances, but they still ended up causing so much damage. This was even worse than getting killed.

This was what family infighting was like.

She was a little worried and wanted to visit Guan Qing.

Her grandmother had not gotten well yet, so Guan Qing and Guan Wan practically lived in Songhe Hall now. Song Caitang decided just to head there directly.

Her grandmother had really taken medicine this time and was asleep, so she didn’t secretly consume any candy. Song Caitang saw that her grandmother looked better now, so she was relieved and left the room with Guan Qing.

“Where’s Wanwan?” She didn’t see Guan Wan around.

Guan Qing warmed up a pot of tea, then poured a cup out for Song Caitang, “After hearing that it’s better to make medicine for Grandmother herself, she didn’t even dare to eat the food from the kitchen anymore and has gone to prepare her own meal.”

She placed the cup of tea in front of Song Caitang and said quietly, “I really have to thank you for this.”

Song Caitang smiled faintly and took a sip, “She’s my grandmother too.”

But she was more concerned about what was going to happen after this.

She looked at Guan Qing, then looked toward Qingyi Court, “Are you…still doing alright here?”

Guan Qing raised an eyebrow. Her voice remained emotionless as she said, “I’d just earn a little less. I can afford that.”

She noticed that Song Caitang’s eyes were watery, and she still looked worried, so she sighed and glared at Song Caitang, “All these people already look down on me. Are you looking down on me as well?”

“I wouldn’t dare to.” Song Caitang saw how bright and confident Guan Qing was. Guan Qing wasn’t pretending to be okay. She was really alright. So, Song Caitang was comfortable with being cheeky around her, “When I got back, everyone was talking about how suave you were! That aura and that manner of speech was so valiant! It makes a timid girl like me so envious!”

Guan Qing laughed, “How old are you already? Don’t speak like you’re a child.”

After speaking to Guan Qing for a while more, Song Caitang realized she really had been worried for nothing. In this battle, Guan Qing had not been defeated, and neither was she afraid of what Madam Zhang was doing. Guan Qing was well prepared to take her on.

But while talking, Guan Qing would look a little concerned at times.

Why? Song Caitang frowned.

Then again, which young woman of marriageable age wouldn’t have a few worries of their own? It was fine as long as it didn’t have anything to do with the fight within the family.

When they were done talking, Song Caitang got up to excuse herself, “I’ll head off then.”

“Wait up.” Guan Qing glanced behind her, and her trusted head maid, Chunhong, stepped forward and held up a small box in front of Song Caitang, “Take this. Ask me for more if you run out.”

Song Caitang took the small box from Chunhong. She knew it contained money.

She noticed that Chunhong had disappeared for a short while earlier. So, she had gone to act on her Young Mistress’ instructions and put some money into this box.

“Remember, if there’s one thing this family doesn’t lack, it’s money. Don’t feel bad about asking for some,” Guan Qing frowned as she pointed to the golden clip in Song Caitang’s hair, “Look at that thing in your hair. You’ve worn the same one for three days in a row now. Are we too poor or something? We can’t afford more? Or have you not regained all your senses yet, and you’ve forgotten how to spend money? Is it very fun to hear others laugh at you for being poor?”

There she went again.

Guan Qing’s way of showing concern was always so awkward.

Song Caitang hugged the box and smiled sweetly, “Yes, yes, I got it, Eldest Sister. I’m going to spend LOTS and LOTS of money! Don’t get a shock when that happens!”

Guan Qing scoffed as she narrowed her eyes and threw Song Caitang a confident and proud look, “Go ahead and try, I’ll be waiting.”

Song Caitang didn’t know what to say to that.

Fine! You’re good at earning your own keep! Great!

Also, besides asking her for money, she could look this cousin up if she was ever caught up in some fight within the family! Her eldest cousin was definitely going to prove useful!